About

Claude M. “Mickey” Kicklighter Jr.,
Personal Injury Attorney

Mickey Kicklighter, based in Effingham County, Georgia, has practiced law for over 35 years and is the founder of Kicklighter Law. He has tried over 1,000 cases, including nearly 100 jury trials. Mickey has a long and extensive history as a personal injury attorney for residents in the state of Georgia. He rolls up his sleeves to help his clients from day one to the end of a trial and beyond.

Before becoming a personal injury attorney, Mickey spent a number of years doing insurance defense work and served as an agent for NFL players and NASCAR drivers. Mickey worked in Cobb County as a risk management attorney. He has served as a member of the Effingham County and Bulloch County drug courts as well as assistant and chief assistant district attorney in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit (Liberty, Long, Tattnall, Evans, Bryan, and McIntosh Counties).

Mickey has been happily married to his wife Kim since 1992 and they have three daughters.

Mercer University, B.A. in Political Science, minor in English and Psychology (1979)

Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University, J.D. (1982)

State of Georgia

Admitted to the Supreme Court of Georgia

Admitted to the Court of Appeals of Georgia

Admitted to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Current member Effingham County Bar Association – Two-time Past President

Current member American Bar Association

Current member of the Military Legal Assistance Program Committee State Bar of Georgia

Former member of the Uniform Superior Court Rules Committee of the State Bar of Georgia

Former member of the Judicial Qualifications Committee of the State Bar of Georgia

Former Special Master for the State Bar of Georgia

Former Counsel for the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority

Former Counsel for ALCOA Aluminum State of Georgia

Former Risk Management Attorney for Cobb County Georgia

Current Member Bulloch County Bar Association

Member, Compassion Christian Church – Effingham Campus

Voted Best Attorney in Effingham County 2016

Former President Springfield Lions Club

Former Vice Chairman of the Effingham County CASA Board

Former Vice Chairman of The Effingham County Family Connection

Founding Member of Leaders Improving the Future of Effingham Committee (LIFE)

Charter Member Statesboro Sunshine Rotary Club

Founding member and Past President of the Springfield Revitalization Committee

Lori Welch, Attorney

Lori E. Welch is a trial attorney with over five years of experience, with a focus on criminal defense and domestic law. She joined Kicklighter Law in January of 2018 and is an experienced, effective, and a compassionate advocate for her clients. Mrs. Welch graduated Cum Laude from South Carolina’s Honors College in 2005 and excelled as a computer software consultant for four years, prior to attending the Walter F. George Mercer School of Law in 2009.

While in law school, she served on Mercer’s Advocacy Council, actively competed in and coached the Mercer Law Mock Trial Team, worked as legal intern for the Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Board, served as law clerk for the Superior Court of Houston County, and began trying cases at the Macon Circuit Public Defenders Office under Georgia’s Third Year Practice Act. Further, she successfully completed Mercer Law School’s esteemed Advanced Legal Writing Certificate Program and chaired Joshua’s Wish, a philanthropy funding pediatric brain tumor research.

Support Staff

Mandy Hargrove

Senior Paralegal, Chief of Staff

Mandy has been with Kicklighter Law since 2002. She graduated with an A.S. in Paralegal Studies in 2009. She is married with two children. An Effingham County native, former Secretary of the Effingham County Republican Party, and a partner of The Chapel, Effingham Campus, you will often find her serving in the children’s ministry, greeting new visitors, or leading a small group.

Mandy is the law firm’s Chief of Staff and paralegal. She oversees the day-to-day operations and works primarily with those individuals facing family law related issues such as divorce, custody, child support, and contempt actions.

Kimberly Kicklighter

Director of Support and Financial Manager

Patty Seagroves

Paralegal

Kara Richards

Receptionist, Administrative Assistant, Paralegal

Kara Richards is an Effingham native and former rotary member. She graduated from Effingham County High School and then pursued her Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies graduating from South University in 2009. She has two children and attends Centerpoint Community Church. Kara has seven years of experience as a paralegal and has worked in the practice areas of family law, criminal law, estates, and civil litigation. Kara joined Kicklighter Law in 2018.